Abstract
Abstract This paper focuses on a fragmentary copy of Exodus from Qumran that has not so far received sufficient attention—4Q11 (4QpaleoGen-Exodl). The paper proposes a material reconstruction of the scroll and discusses its contribution to the textual classification of the scroll. Although 4Q11 apparently reflects the short literary form of MT and LXX Exodus, which does not include the major expansions characteristic of the pre-Samaritan tradition, an examination of individual readings reveals that the scroll includes some minor exegetical variants. Thus, 4Q11 demonstrates the necessity of exploring the scribal approach reflected in scriptural Qumran scrolls, in addition to their classification into textual traditions. Only such a holistic investigation can allow for an improved understanding of the text and processes that took place during its transmission.
Highlights
4Q11, known as 4QpaleoGen-Exodl, is a fragmentary manuscript that preserves text from the last verse of Genesis and portions of Exod 1:1 to 36:36
Via free access dayfani second or first century bce.[1]. This date was accepted by Patrick Skehan, Eugene Ulrich, and Judith Sanderson in their official edition of the scroll.[2]
It discusses material and textual matters related to 4Q11 and their implications for the conception of the various ways in which scriptural texts were transmitted in the late Second Temple period
Summary
4Q11, known as 4QpaleoGen-Exodl, is a fragmentary manuscript that preserves text from the last verse of Genesis and portions of Exod 1:1 to 36:36. If 4Q11 belonged to the pre-Samaritan tradition, the hypothetical text would include major expansions Due to these variant possibilities, these particular fragments cannot be used to determine the number of lines in a column. Fragment 1 preserves the right margin with stitching holes, indicating that it belongs to the first column of the first sheet containing Exodus in 4Q11 Xiii), which preserves remnants of the seam on its right margin This sheet ends with the column of fragment 23 Since the intercolumnar space in fragments 5 and 7 is too narrow to encompass any major expansions, we may conclude that the scroll did not contain any of the large expansions characteristic of the plagues narrative in sp-Exod. Reconstruction of the text between fragment 20 and subsequent fragments indicates that 4Q11 did not include the two major expansions in chapter 18 characteristic of sp-Exod The fact that independent pieces of material evidence fit together in the proposed
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